identifying opportunities that exist in alternative protein sources · 2020. 9. 12. ·...

Information Classification: General

Identifying opportunities that exist in

alternative protein sources

Luca Bucchini, MPH, PhD

[email protected]


Main topics

• Context: the context is increasingly supportive of alternative protein

sources

• Nutritional scores: looking at nutritional quality helps select strong

opportunities – but it may not be the fully story

• Compliance: understanding compliance issues may save headaches

• Communication: you cannot say everything you would wish to say

about your protein


THE CONTEXT

The context is evolving in a direction that supports alternative protein sources


Society is supportive of alternative protein sources

Source: A. Kohl (WWF), Food, consumer trends and the environment. presentation. November

2018 (including figure above)


Source: A. Kohl (WWF), Food, consumer trends and the environment.

presentation. November 2018 (including figure above)


More alternative protein sources: why?

• Broader trends include:

– growth of vegetarianism and

veganism;

– perceived issues with GM status

of soy;

– concerns on the environmental

impact & sustainability of animal

protein;

– aim to reduce waste (e.g.. protein

fraction of some crops considered

waste).


The EU is looking at alternative protein sources

• Key points

– Increase relative competitiveness versus

other crops and non-EU plant proteins

– Supply chain development and support

for producer organisations

– Recognition of legume’s contribution to

environmental and climate targets

– Noting evolving consumer behaviour and

preference

– Aim to influence other policies and

debates in society (deforestation, UN SDGs,

Renewable Energy Directive, European

Bioeconomy Strategy)


EU Member States are also working on their own

projects

• The Netherlands aims for:

– A healthy balance between plant protein (60%) and

animal protein (40%) in 2050.

• Support for sustainable alternatives such as:

– Micro algae, seaweed, duckweed (water lenses),

insects, grass, beet leaves, potato

• Support for new processing technology;

– fermentation of proteins, using fungi

Source: Y. Koorengevel (Dutch Ministry of Agriculture), EU protein plan: Dutch

perspective on trends, developments and ambition. Presentation. July 2018

(including figure on side)


What opportunities does this create for me?

1. More availability of sources for the industry, from the EU (see

origin debate), potentially certified for organic content and overall

better prices.

2. Policy and society will reinforce consumer awareness and

interest in a positive feedback loop.

3. More voluntary programs and certification schemes.

4. Links with universities or other organisations for conducting

research with public/private funds.


NUTRITIONAL QUALITY

Looking at nutritional quality helps select strong opportunities


Proteins differ in many ways and humans have

specific requirements

1. Proteins have different amino

acid composition and structure.

2. Not all proteins are equally

digestible.

3. Humans need proteins both in

terms of total amounts

(measured with nitrogen) and

specific amino acids.

4. Humans cannot produce all amino

acids. Some are essential.

Vitafoods 2019


How is the nutritional quality of protein measured?

• Older methods

– PER – based on animal data

– Biological value (BV) – based on nitrogen absorption

• Newer methods

– PDCAAS – fecal digestibility and human requirements of a 2- to 5-year-old

child (considered the most nutritionally demanding age group)

– DIAAS – ileal digestibility, not truncated, and human requirements. Current

FAO/WHO recommendation.

• Results

– broad variation among sources. Animal protein such as whey, milk, meat

tend to perform better with newer methods because plant proteins have

limiting amino acids:

– Data often not available on specific sources.


Different sources have very different scores

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

PD

CA

AS

(vari

ou

s so

urc

es)


Diet versus individual product and fortification

• When considered in the context of the diet,

individual protein sources are complementary

(EFSA, 2012) making individual scores less

important.

• However, when discussing individual protein

products for supplementation, consumers may

reasonably expect a nutritionally complete

source of protein.

• Fortification with individual amino acids is an

option, and is mandatory for products with meal

replacement claims to meet “chemical index”

(Reg. (EC) 1414/2016).

NU

TR

ITO

NA

LLY

INC

OM

PLE

TE

?

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2557



• Understanding nutrition in relation to protein

sources helps to make selection.

• Nutritional quality may not be driver in the

marketplace for some opportunities which may

be based on ethics.

• Complementing different proteins and free

amino acids may improve a product’s appeal.


REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Understanding compliance issues may save headaches


Do not underestimate food safety

requirements


Do not underestimate safety requirements

Vitafoods 2019

1. Proteins must meet

regulatory requirements.

2. There are several (micro

criteria, chemical

contaminants, pesticides

(concentration), extraction

solvents, not from waste, etc).

3. Microbiology is emerging as a

key concern.

4. Particular requirements for

FMSP and foods targeting

infants, or FMSP for young

children

Selected

Requirement

Legal

provisions

Notes

Micro criteria Reg. (EC) No

2073/2005 and

HACCP

Despite low aW, protein powders may

harbour pathogens

Chemical

contaminants

Reg. (EC) No

1881/2006 and

HACCP

Concentration may occur. Process

contaminants to be considered

Pesticides Reg. (EC) No

396/2005

Concentration may occur.

Extraction

solvents

Dir. 2009/32/EC

GM status Reg. (EC)

1829/2003

Food

allergens

Reg. (EU) No

1169/2011

Includes all sources

Processing

aids

Reg. (EC) No

178/2002

Despite absence of specific rules,

compliance with safety rules required

Food hygiene Reg. (EC) No

852/2004

Production establishments must be

registered if in EU; in any case comply

with EU food hygiene rules


Proteins must not be novel or be authorised as such

1. Novel sources of proteins require

assessment (rapeseed protein), even if from

sources that are otherwise used as food

(e.g., rapeseed oil)

2. This is due to the definition of novel food

in the regulation – it must be extracted

proteins that have been consumed, as a

rule, and not just the overall food

3. Data requirements may be less stringent

than for other Novel Foods, but

authorisation may be limited in terms of the

amounts and there are costs and time issues

4. Data protection, coupled with patents,

may be a boon



1. Use of compliant proteins (if supplier has taken care of

all the issues) may avoid difficulties and delays

2. Diligence on safety may avoid costly recalls and

reputational damage

3. Novel food authorisations give legal certainty, and data

protection may provide competitive advantage


COMMUNICATION

You cannot say everything you would wish to say about your protein


Don’t bet on new health claims

• Based on consensus science as

viewed by EFSA, it is currently not

easy to foresee new health claims

for specific protein sources.

• EFSA has not seen benefits on top

of those assessed for the claim of

generic protein and muscle

function, and when setting the

DRV.

RG EGGSEED

PROTEINTM

INCREASES

MUSCLE

STRENGHT*


Don’t expect too much from nutrition claims (in the

safe zone)

• Source of protein and high in protein

easy to make for many foods – may be

trivial

• Comparative claims on protein

sources may be difficult to substantiate

• Specifically, claims on PD-CAAS or

DIAAS may be interpreted as

comparative nutrition or health claims

that are not authorised

• Bioavailability claims (absolute, timing

of absorption) generally not considered

health claims but MS level

interpretation may vary

RG EGGSEED

PROTEINTM HAS

HIGHEST PD-CAAS

OF PLANT PROTEINS

?


Go, with care, with ethical claims

• Not well regulated (except

organic), reliance on

certification or self-assessment

• Established schemes to be

preferred.

• Certification bodies have

accepted private standards in

some MS sometimes with

limited regulatory analysis.

RG EGGSEED

PROTEINTM HAS

BEEN CERTIFIED FOR

SUSTAINABILITY BY

WWX


Use social media with nous

• Remember if it is increasingly regulated as advertising – not a

free for all

• Be mindful of guidelines and case-law at national level


Summary

1. The general context is supportive for alternative sources

of proteins,

2. Nutritional quality needs to be understood.

3. Regulatory compliance of alternative plant and

animal protein sources is not a given, but must be

assessed on a case-by-case basis with adequate data

4. Designing compliant communication for

alternative protein sources is a challenge, and solutions are

not necessarily to be found in the health claim space

identifying opportunities that exist in alternative protein sources · 2020. 9. 12. ·...

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